01.31.08

BREAK

Langland Bay

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Thursday, January 31, 2008

Puzzle by Paula Gamache, edited by Will Shortz

A note is provided with this crossword puzzle: “The circled letters in the answers to the seven starred clues, reading left to right or top to bottom, spell words that can complete familiar phrases that start with "break."

BREAK is not in the puzzle, and other than being circled letters, neither are the BREAK followers: BREAD, OPEN, WIND, RANKS, APART, FREE, and EVEN. The inter-related entries containing the circled letters have an asterisk preceding the clue -- BRAINDEAD (16A. *Not just stupid); OPIUMDEN (22A. *Setting in Sherlock Holmes’s “The Man with the Twisted Lip”); WITSEND (37A *Perplexed state); RATFINKS (49A. *Informers); APPLETART (59A. *Dessert made from a product of 10-Down); FRUITTREE (10D. *Orchard part); and EVILQUEEN (33D. *Fairy tale meanie).

Quite a volatile group of words -- one can imagine several scenarios utilizing these entries, non-entries, and their clues, but that might best be left to the imagination! PASS (1A. Throw) that all aside and there is yet further fodder in this crossword for the base -- LUST (24A. The hots), LEERS (61A. Satyric looks), AROUSED (15D. Stimulated), “Ich LIEBE dich” (German words of endearment) (58A.) -- Ah! “How foolish OFME!” (46D), I’ll return to my PEW (60D. Church perch)!

Ahem! Seven-letter entries include LAMPOIL (19A. Kerosene); YAOMING (20A. N.B.A. center who has pitched for McDonald’s, Pepsi and Visa); ALUMNAE (54A. Seven Sisters grads); POMPEII (57A. Major Italian tourist site); SLIPUPS (4D. Blunders); WAHINES (37D. Some luau dancers); FLIPTOP (42D. Cigarette box feature); and NAPSTER (23D. Music download source).

“Well, LADIDA!“ (5D) and ATOLLS (45D. Ocean rings) are the six-letter entries. The five-letter entries include SPREE (34A. Shopaholic’s delight); ATRIA (15A. Skylit courts); ROUEN (18A. Where William the Conqueror died); PABLO (1D. Cellist Casals); “That’s AWRAP!” (director’s cry) (2D); SOAMI (3D. “Ditto”); ADELE Hugo, 1975 Isabelle Adjani role based on a real-life story (6D.); ATOMS (9D. Bits); ALIEN (21D. Completely strange); IBIZA (38D. Resort island ESE of Valencia); UMBRA (48D. Planetary shadow); APPLY (50D. Be in force, as a rule), Author Zora NEALE Hurston (51D.); KIRIN (52D. Popular Japanese beer); and SITON (53D. Squelch).

Four-letter entries include ADIN, AFBS, AIRS (29D. Pretense), AMIS, ALLA, ANDY, ANNA, AWOL, BIEN, CELL, FESS, HITE, HWYS, JADE, JOES, LAVA, LIEN, MRES, NOME, ODIE, OLIO, PENN, SANG, STET, and XMAS. Three-letter -- ADV, AOL, DII, EEL, RIM, TAX and VIA (7D. Through).

Break, Break, Break

Break, break, break,
On thy cold gray stones, O Sea!
And I would that my tongue could utter
The thoughts that arise in me.

O, well for the fisherman's boy,
That he shouts with his sister at play!
O, well for the sailor lad,
That he sings in his boat on the bay!

And the stately ships go on
To their haven under the hill;
But O for the touch of a vanish'd hand,
And the sound of a voice that is still!

Break, break, break
At the foot of thy crags, O Sea!
But the tender grace of a day that is dead
Will never come back to me.

--- Alfred, Lord Tennyson

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01.30.08

EGGS

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Puzzle by Peter A. Collins, edited by Will Shortz

Three entries across the middle of the grid read HALF DOZEN EGGS (36A. With 38- and 40-Across, grocery purchase … or what can be found in some other Across answers in this puzzle), (38A. See 36-Across), (40A. See 36-Across).

There are six across entries in the crossword that contain the letters EGG -- KEGGERS (17A. Fraternity parties), LEGGING (18A. Ankle-to-waist wear), ARPEGGIO (19A. Harpist’s progression), PEGGYSUE (55A. 1957 Buddy Holly hit), BEGGARY (57A. Extreme poverty), and “Eat your VEGGIES!” (mom’s order). -- after all those eggs, vegetables would be welcome!

Other long answers include PALETTE (1A. Choice of colors); BOBCATS (8A. Charlotte hoopsters); AGONIES (15A. Extreme pains); ONEIDAS (16A. Native New Yorkers); MALARIA (63A. Tropical woe); ENGARDE (64A. Fighting words); SKITTER (65A. Move quickly [over]); BEGORRA (10D. Irish exclamation); RAMPART (42D. Castle fortification); and GRIZZLING (20D. Turning gray).

Six letter entries include ENGAGE, TIEROD, BOLGER, MISADD, IMELDA, ENGINE, SIGMAS, MAGYAR (46D. Hungarian), SLUGGO, ALEGAR, AMIGOS, NARNIA, ADDERS, and ILLEST (51A. Coolest, in rap slang).

Five-letter, TERPS, ONEIF, ALOHA, ASFAT (35D. Comparable to a pig), EERIE, ISENT, REFRY, LIMED, SANAA, and AMEAN. Four-letter, ESSE, ADIA, TANG, SSGT, YORE, FETA, ABMS, PEAK, UGLI, YVES, ROES, and DATA. Three-letter, PAK, AGE, LOG, CIG, MAO (28D. Red leader), YDS, NNW, EON, GAT, IRE, EDU, SEP, AGT, MIR, OSE, YAZ, LOW (43A. Moo), IMF, MIN, and APU.

The remaining clues -- Across: 21. F.B.I. worker: Abbr.; 22. Pancho and the Cisco Kid, e.g.; 25. Prepare, in a way, as beans; 27. Like some treated lawns; 28. Launch of 2/20/86; 29. Some deer; 32. Sugar suffix; 33. 1960s’80s Red Sox great, informally; 34. Locale of seven C. S. Lewis novels; 41. Milk snakes; 44. Global financial org.; 45. Facts; 46. No. before or after a colon; 47. Yemen’s capital; 49. “You’re AMEAN One, Mr. Grinch”; 52. Kwik-E-Mart owner on “The Simpsons”.

Down: 1. Nuclear power since 1998: Abbr.; 2. Turn gray, say; 3. Captain’s charge; 4. Captivate; 5. Steering system component; 6. Univ. of Maryland athletes; 7. Latin infinitive; 8. “The Wizard of Oz” scarecrow portrayer; 9. “ONEIF by land…”; 11. It might be bummed, for short; 12. “ADIA, I do believe I failed you” (opening of a 1998 hit); 13. Aftertaste, e.g.; 14. Army NCO; 22. You might get it coming and going; 23. Say 2 + 3 = 6, e.g.; 24. Marcos of the Philippines; 26. Days of YORE; 30. Driver; 31. Summating signs; 33. Gridiron stats: Abbr.; 34. Point just past 11 on a clock: Abbr.; 37. Greek salad ingredient; 39. Long time; 47. Nancy’s pal, in the comics; 48. Sour brew; 50. Spooky; 51. “ISENT a Letter to My Love” (Simone Signoret film); 52. Some mil. Defenses; 53. Like some airline ravel periods; 54. Wrinkly fruit; 58. Actor Montand; 58. Gangbanger’s gun; 60. Dander; 61. Follower of “harvard”; 62. Back-to-school mo.

It’s always possible to learn something new from a crossword puzzle… or is it? Today, I’m supposed to believe that a GAT, besides being a gangster’s gun, is also a gangbanger’s gun. I’m tempted to google gangbanger against gangster, but would probably just come up with deviled yeggs!

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01.29.08

Rolling

Tapestry by Elaine Normandy
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Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Puzzle by C. W. Stewart and J. K. Hummel, edited by Will Shortz

THEYCANBEROLLED (39A. What 17-, 26-, 50- and 60-Across have in common), along with BOWLINGBALL (17A. It may end up in the gutter); TURTLENECK (26A. Sweater style); QUAKEROATS (50A. Classic breakfast fare); and MOVIECAMERA (60A. Item on a set) are the inter-related entries of this last Tuesday of January puzzle as this cold month ELAPSES (29A. Runs out) and the SUNDIAL (48A. Old timer?) spends a little less time in the dark while the Earth rolls in its orbit around old Sol. The groundhog is stirring!

This Sunday’s crossword has turned up a second time this week -- yesterday it was a repeat of ATANEND -- today it’s the bowling ball, which on Sunday was featured as the entry THEBALLSINYOURCOURTROOM (72A. Reminder to a forgetful judge on bowling night?). Cool!

Lots to like in this crossword, the words play against each other in a simultaneously harmonious and jangling way -- FANGS and STUDS, NOLO and SOLOED, ALOHA and ADIEU, AIDA, ADELE and ARIEL, ALA and ORO, TEE, TAP and TAPE, ADAGE and OLDIE, OZARK and OSKAR, LABOR and PAYHIKE, et cetera. YAHOO gets a shout, there’s the MOB, the USMC, an IDOL, a LIAR, a CLASS, AMOR, SMUT, FUMES, NOVAE, and CYGNUS, all SNARLED in a handsome weave, a wonderful unrolled tapestry of entries and clues, ideas and words. The clues:

Across: 1. Prominent feature of Dracula; 6. Reunion group; 11. Showman Ziegfeld; 14. “Let’s Make ADEAL”; 15. Search engine name; 16. Designer Claiborne; 19. In the style of; 20. AMINO acid (protein component); 21. Schindler of “Schindler’s List”; 23. Spy’s device; 29. Runs out; 32. Slave girl of opera; 33. Exploding stars; 34. Fuel economy org.; 35. City in Italia; 43. Pageant accessory; 44. Tony Soprano and cohorts, with “the”; 45. Cheese hunk; 46. One on a pedestal; 48 Old timer?; 54. Suffix with butyl; 55. Reporting to; 56. How-to presentations; 59. ATA glance; 66. Fix illegally; 67. Disney mermaid; 68. Sees red; 69. Informal top; 70. Center of power; 71. Some retired racehorses.

Down: 1. Wonderful, slangily; 2. Fuss; 3. Partner of improved; 4. Big bash; SLIM to none (long odds); 6. Stellar swan; 7. Part of a repair estimate; 8. “Got it!”; 9. Showman Hurok; 10. Went at it alone; 11. Cereal morsel; 12. Purple hue; 13. Country/rock’s OZARK Mountain; 18. Nick at NITE; 22. Tangled, as hair; 23. Big tops; 24. Lei Day greeting; 25. Blacktops, say; 27. Surveillance evidence; 28. Fact fudger; 30. Common union demand; 31. Part of a min.; 34. Flow back; 36. Nostalgic tune; 37. Mullally of “Will & Grace”; 38. Fred Astaire’s sister; 40. Bow-toting god; 41. Certain plea, for short; 42. Of one’s OWN; 47. Skin-related; 48. Makes hard; 49. “Semper Fi” org.; 50. Milk purchase; 51. Loosen, in a way; 52. Bit of wisdom; 53. Parting word; 57. Klutzy sorts; 58. Dirty reading; “ORO y plata”; 62. Trader VIC (old restaurateur); 63. Rhea relative; 64 Like Republican states on an electoral map; 65. Braying beast.

Perhaps I should have saved the entries of ALOHA and ADIEU to close, but I didn’t, so I’ll just call it a NITE (18D.) and let this puzzle be the LOCUS (70A. Center of power) to get Tuesday rolling without further ADO (2D. Fuss)!

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01.28.08

Seriously!



Monday, January 28, 2008

Puzzle by Michael Blake, edited by Will Shortz

THE CHIPMUNKS (55A Singing group suggested by the starts of 20-, 28- and 48-Across) is certainly a very light way of linking three heavy entries together -- ALVIN TOFFLER (20A. “Future Shock” author), SIMON WIESENTHAL (28A, Late hunter of Nazi war criminals), and THEODORE DREISER (48A. “Sister Carrie” author). Alvin and the Chipmunks is an animated music group, consisting of three singing chipmunks: Alvin, Simon, and Theodore. I haven't heard them in years, but as children my brother and I would sing very slowly on a tape recorder and then replay it on fast -- voila, Chipmunks!

Lots of other contrast in this jazzy little Monday puzzle: LAMAZE (26A. Kind of class for expectant mothers) with STIFFS (8D. Cadavers, slangily); TERRA firma (17A.) with EDWHITE (44D. First American to walk in space); CLAMOR (27D. Noisy shouting) with SEDATE (28D. Anesthetize, say); TOWIT (21D. Namely) with Tit for TAT (12D.); and we have a BEAR (10D. Yogi, for one) and a MOOSE (69A. Bullwinkle, for one) -- oh, an there's TERMITE (46D. Orkin target) and ANTENNA (9D. Insect or radio part) -- and a total repeat from yesterday's puzzle, ATANEND (5D. Finished), clued yesterday as (19D. Over).

People in the puzzle joining those pseudo-Chipmunks, Alvin Toffler, Simon Wiesenthal, and Theodore Dreiser, are MATA Hari (1D.); ABEL (2D. Brother of Cain and Seth); "MERV Griffin's Crosswords" (3D.); MARINO (4D. Dolphins QB Dan); LEE (22D. Former auto executive Iacocca); THOMAS (25D. Clarence of the Supreme Court); EARLE (32D. Country rocker Steve); MAMMA (1A. Baby's first word, in Italy); EMO (34A. Comedian Philips); a DIVA (35A. Aria singer); DIOR (37A. Designer Christian); an IMAM (42A. Muslim holy man); LOTT (45A. Former senator Trent); HAN Solo of "Star Wars" (64A.); IRENES (65A. Actress Papas or Ryan); ROGET (66A. Thesaurus author); and last but not least, an actress I directed in a play some years ago, EDIES (71A. Actress Falco and namesakes) -- explaining why I was such a faithful viewer of "The Sopranos".

Pictured below is what the chipmunk in my backyard looks like. He and his extended family live under the tool shed, and I've never heard them make a sound, much less sing!



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01.27.08

I Need My Space!

Las Meninas (after Velázquez), 1957 -- Pablo Picasso

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Sunday, January 27, 2008

I NEED MY SPACE, Puzzle by Mike Nothnagel, edited by Will Shortz

This Sunday construction houses seven entries that add a ROOM to each entry:

AFRAID OF THE DARKROOM (24A. Like a useless photo lab employee?);
BRINGSHOMEROOMTHEBACON (39A. Offers breakfast to students before first period?);
POWDERROOMKEG (53A. Beer sources for genteel guests?);
THEBALLSINYOURCOURTROOM (72A. Reminder to a forgetful judge on bowling night?);
GREENROOMPARTY (92A. What talk show guests have before the broadcast?);
NORESTROOMFORTHEWICKED (107A. Sign outside a church lavatory);
DAVYJONESLOCKERROOM (125A. Where a Monkee changes after a game?).

After those rooms have been given the once-over, there are plenty of nooks and crannies in this crossword puzzle to explore, many of them are dead ends and others are mazes leading one into an attic or a boiler room of angst. Clues are duplicitous and entries are auspicious in strange ways.

Giving pause is such fare as BEAV, SPAC, ZIG, ROUX, OHGOD, OMAHA, OOFS, ASHRAMS, ATANEND, PUTUPJOB, VOSTOK, CHEST, KTOSLIN, and KOBE. Nothing really sadistic or vicious, just a little wiggy here and there, ditto with the clues; e.g., 71D. Pouting person’s action winds up being STAMP -- well, who knew that pouting could lead to that?! Who do you know that stamps when they pout? -- I’d smack ‘em good a couple of WHAMS (32D. Loud hits)! Here’s some pouting and stamping to a tune by DRJOHN (85D. “Right Place Wrong Time” singer, 1973).

Incidentally, it appears there’s a fee for the use of the church’s facility (Sign outside a church lavatory -- “No Restroom For the Wicked”), delineated in the central lower hallway of this puzzles’ maze, following RESTROOM, ONION, FUMES, LOCKERROOM, is TITHE (132A. Church support), immediately followed by 136A. ENTER! Unless you haven’t taken care of 29A. Trespasses -- SINS! -- OHGOD (84A. 1977 George Burns film), a lovely Sunday puzzle?

Finally, subject crossword ends with ONSET (137A. Beginning) -- an appropriate exit -- but hopefully not out the bathroom door into the graveyard!

“My Father's house has many rooms. If that were not true, would I have told you that I'm going to prepare a place for you?” -- John 14:2

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01.26.08

What's in a Name?

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Puzzle by Karen M. Tracey, edited by Will Shortz

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." -- William Shakespeare, Romeo and Julie, II, ii

What’s in a name? Today’s crossword is not letting on too much -- however, it certainly is full of them: Mary J. Bilge, Ferruccio Busoni, Jean Genet, Phillip Glass, Irv Gotti, Abbas Kiarostami, Erik Larson, Barry Manilow, Liza Minnelli, Naomi (Mara), Tania Raymonde, Alex Rousseau, Sylvia Syms, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and Stanislaw Wyspianski, along with Kris (Cheryl), a major domo, a nurse and patient, an admiral and a general, a satyr, Errol, the Owl, Pachebel, Isaac, Turandot, Dad’s, the Weasley family, Harry Potter, Bunsen, a Slav in the form of a Dalmatian and a Pomeranian, and even a JURYBOX (7A. Peer group setting?).

The four corners of the crossword have three nine-letter stacked entries each: Upper left going across: 1. COOKIEJAR, 15. OPPORTUNE, and 17. RECOVERED. Upper right down: 12. ROOTCANAL, 13. MAJORDOMO, and 14. STANISLAW. Lower left going down: 30. JEANGENET, 31. UNDERRATE, and 32. NUMBERONE. Lower right across: 57. HILLSIDES, 60. ENLARGERS, and 62. STEVIERAY.

After that, in descending order -- Seven-letter entries: 7D. JURYBOX, 9D. REDSTAR, 39D. LURCHES, 40D. MOSELLE, 30A. JUNKFAX, 34A. RETINOL, 38A. ADMIRAL, and 40A MANILOW. Six-letter entries: 8D. ANEMIC, 25D. TREPAN, 28D. CASABA, 43D. SQUINT, 27A. ECOCAR, 36A. ENURES, 37A. PAJAMA, and 42A. BUSONI. Five-letters: NORMS, UBOAT, RIOJA, SETON, BITTE, SATYR, BARQS, ABBAS, ERROL, NAOMI, ETNAS, TEENS, CORES, OPERA, OPCIT, KOOKY, NURSE, REFER, TANIA, BLIGE, BIDER, AZERA, SASSY. Four-letter; ETES, OBIE, KRIS, FIJI, OMAN, SLAV, ERIK, SYMS, FADS, NEBS, LIZA, and CUES. Three-letter: IRV, SRI, CRI, and GRE.

Does that all look just like a lot of names for names’ sake -- It sure did to me!

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01.25.08

Reflections

Friday, January 25, 2008

Puzzle by David Quarfoot, edited by Will Shortz

Reflections in this yawning abyss of a puzzle reverberate in a fragmented looking glass through contrasting images -- DUALROLES (3A. Versatile actors may play them) and CYRANO (45D. Edmond Rostand hero); MIRROR (20A. Ape) and ISEEIT (55A Spotter's confirmation); EMAJOR (18A. Key that doesn't include 58-Across) and ASHARP (58A. It's almost a B, scorewise); QUEEN (26A. Powerful piece) and PEON (53A. Underhand?); BEIGES (9A 23-Across and others) and ECRU (23A. Shade shade); ROTE (22A Habit) and INARUT (11D Stuck) in a chasm of TRUELOVE (15A. One and only) shattering amid CRIES (38D. Exclamations) of DONTLIE (39A. "Be honest!"), YEROUT (29A. Call from home), and YESINDEED (36D. "Of course"), and subtly forming a dark narcissistic crossword vérité.

The turmoil of life also exists here in the form of SADRCITY (1A. War-torn Baghdad suburb); ELNINO (16A. Weather Channel topic); KIMJONGIL (35D. Head of state known to his people as "Dear Leader"); TRAP (40D. Piehole) mingling among ETUDES (28D. School exercises) and ITUNES (62D. Apple application) with ATALANTA (17A. Fleet runner of myth) paced to TEAR (54A. Zip).

Solemnness manifests itself with STATESMAN (1D. Henry Clay or William Jennings Bryan) and ARTICLEVI (2D. It forbids religious tests for political office); SLIDEINTO (34D. Enter gently) ATEASE (46D. Calm) and STAID (48D. Composed), while REINHOLD (65A. Judge of films) lights a GASRANGE (60A. Pilot's place) in the SKY (34A. Pilot's place) with an ASCOTTIE (63A. Fancy haberdashery item) for GIJOE (12D. 11 1/2" soldier), ECSEGAR (43D. Swee' Pea's creator) and the OSOS (30A. Zoo de Madrid beasts).

To QUENCH (26D. Put out) this overly reflective ENOTE (13D. Online memo), a list of what's left, right, center, horizontal and vertical, then over and out...

Across: 19. Up to; 25. Biblical miracle setting; 27. Boarding spot; 31. 1936 N.L. leader in slugging percentage; 33. Brooklynese pronoun; 37. Part of Manhattan's Alphabet City; 41. Onetime Serbian capital; 42. Show some spunk; 44. Drops in a theater; 45. Japanese model sold from 1970 to 2006; 47. Meccan pilgrim; 48. Some speakers; 51. Abbr. before a date; 57. Polit. label; 64. No longer in.

Down: 4. Person found in a tree: Abbr.; 5. Buck; 6. Corinthian alternative; 7. It might hold a couch potato's potato; 8. Really hoped to get, with "for"; 9.It can be drafted; 10. ELM bark beetle; 14. Archaeologist David who found the lost Roman city of Kourion; 21. Made some waves?; 24. Word in some British place names; 32. Shade of blue; 49. Dirección sailed by Columbus; 50. British poet Tate; 52. Track-and-field equipment; 55. IPSE dixit; 56. 1982 film title role for Bruce Boxieitner; 59. Traffic stopper; 61. School dept.

"And what is a kiss, specifically? A pledge properly sealed, a promise seasoned to taste, a vow stamped with the immediacy of a lip, a rosy circle drawn around the verb 'to love.' A kiss is a message too intimate for the ear, infinity captured in the bee's brief visit to a flower, secular communication with an aftertaste of heaven, the pulse rising from the heart to utter its name on a lover's lip: 'Forever.'"

-- Edmond Rostand, Cyrano de Bergerac, Act 3

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01.24.08

Hit!

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Puzzle by Matt Ginsberg, edited by Will Shortz

HITTHE (63A. Words missing from the answers to the eight starred clues), along with PINATA, ROAD JACK, CAMPAIGN TRAIL, GROUND RUNNING, NAIL ON THE HEAD, BULL’S EYE, FLOOR, and SKIDS are today’s inter-related entries of this fun crossword puzzle, clued as follows:

PINATA (13A. *Party game);
ROADJACK (15A. *1961 chart-topper for Ray Charles);
CAMPAIGNTRAIL (19A. *Vie for votes);
GROUNDRUNNING (37A. *Get off to a quick start);
NAILONTHEHEAD (55A. *Get it exactly);
BULLSEYE (62A. *Shoot perfectly);
FLOOR (28D. *React to gunfire, maybe); and
SKIDS (31A. *Fail).

To that group, one might as well add the entry AIMS (49D Targets)!

The puzzle also hits the spot with its remaining entries, starting with the eight letter entries: AERIALLY (18A. How trapeze artists perform); COALMINE (59A. Vein locale); CALLEDON (10D. Selected); and REGINALD Jeeves of P.G. Wodehouse stories (38D.).

Six-letter entries continue with 17A. ARISES, Stems (from); 35A. MEKONG, “Mother of all rivers”; 40A. OLEOLE, Corrida chant; 61A. AVANTI, Classic Studebaker whose name means “forward” in Italian; 1D. SPACES, Gets all ditzy; 2D. PIRATE, Capt. Sparrow, e.g.; 3D. ANIMAL, Zooid; 7D. TOETAG, Morgue ID; 45D. OPENTO, Entertaining; 46D. LOATHE, Abominate; and 47D. EDDIES, Swirls.

Five-letters: CARRY, GRAND, LYNNE, PLIED, SHOES, SNOOD, SPARS, STEAM,
TEVIS, UNAPT, and VERSE (30D. Chapter‘s partner).

Four-letters: AIMS (49D. Targets), ALLS, ASIA (14D. Largest of a septet), DIAN, GLAD, HATH, JAGR, NEED, OCHS (9A. Phil who sang “Draft Dodger Rag“), OJAI, ORAN, RASP, SDAK (31A. Where Wounded Knee is: Abbr.), SELF (27A. You, to you, or me, to me), SHAH, SOLE, STDS, SELF, and WANG.

Three-letters: APO, AVG, AYN, CBS, DID (65A. Served, as time), ENO, ETA, EWE, HCL, MAR, MNO, NNE, OJS, OTC, OUT (60D, Unsafe), POD, PST, SDI, SEA (43A. Swell place?), SKY (What‘s up), and YUL.

This is a breezy wonder of a crossword puzzle, a…well, uh -- HIT!

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01.23.08

ˈdā-zē

Detail: Graf-Mural by Daze at Club Lit, East Village, NYC
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Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Puzzle by Henry Hook, edited by Will Shortz

Three inter-related entries play on the rhyming of Swayze, daisy, lazy, hazy, and crazy -- 20A. PATRICKSWAYZE; 36A. MICHAELMAS DAISY; and 55A. LAZYHAZYCRAZY -- everything but Maisy and A-Z, rhyme-wise. The rhyme-less (except perhaps LANA and IVANA... any others?) are as follows:


Across: 1. “And SOTO bed”; 5. Personification of desire; 9. Some Spanish Surrealist paintings; 14. Like some traffic, for short; 15. Delete; 16. Call off, as in an emergency; 17. Not an orig.; 18. Field unit; 19. Perilous; 20. “She’s Like the Wind” singer, 1988; 23. Understanding; 24. C’s in shop class?; 27. Something detested; 30. Ginger ALE; 31. SPIC and Span; 34. Square; 35. Soul singer Corinne Bailey RAE; 36. Aster; 41. Raiser of Tarzan; 42. Half-oz.; 43. Part of the Dept. of Homeland Security since 2003; 44. Agent, for short; 45. Tabby; 49. Hadrian’s predecessor; 51. Musical based on a T. H. White novel; 55. Like some days of summer, in song; 58. She said “Don’t get mad, get everything!”; 60. Attention getter; 61. Any minute now; 62. To say in Spanish?; 63. La Citta Eterna; 64. Superboy’s girlfriend; 64. Spirited mount; 66. Cannon of “Heaven Can Wait”; 67. Property attachment.


Down: 1. Michael of R.E.M.; 2. “Jeez!”; 3. Travis who sang “T-R-O-U-B-L-E”; 4. Public relations effort; 5. Bettor’s option; 6. Rise rapidly; 7. Willa Cather’s “One of OURS”; 8. Hasenpfeffer, for one; 9. Its motto is “Manly deeds, womanly words”; 10. Resort island near Majorca; 11. Longtime “Hollywood Squares” regular; 12. TV planet; 13. What a mess!; 21. Wayfarer’s refuge; 22. High spots; 25. Cellular biology material; 26. “Bye”; 28. Rope fibers; 29. Mendes or Longoria; 31. Stylish; 32. Tootler; 33. Winter carnival structure; 37. On the line; 38. Sister magazine of Jet; 39. Fighting Tigers’ sch.; 40. Despite expectations; 46. Dermatologist’s case; 47. Caribbean’s CAYMAN Islands; 48. Film lover’s cable choice; 50. Title girl with a gun in a 1989 Aerosmith hit; 52. Veranda; 53. A high flier may fly in it; 54. English drama critic Kenneth; 56. Obdurate; 57. Sailor hailer; 58. Employee cards and such, briefly; 59. Dog doc.

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For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.

To go to the original post with illustrations and the completed puzzle, or to leave a Comment, click on the TITLE at the beginning of today's or any day's commentary.

01.22.08

It's a Bird

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Puzzle by Adam G. Perl, edited by Will Shortz

The Superman comic newspaper, DAILYPLANET (57A. Publication that is the key to this puzzle’s theme), along with Lois Lane, Clark Kent, and Perry White, whose last names are included in the entries of LANECHANGES (21A. They require signals); KENTSTATE (28A. Ohio university whose team is the Golden Flashes), and WHITELIES (47A. Fibs), are today’s inter-related entries.

Thin as that may seem (where’s Jimmy Olsen?), there are a few more possibilities to throw into this office-worker oriented puzzle -- LOGIN (16A. Go online); OBIT (17A. Final notice?); DATA (42A. Facts and figures); RETYPED (44D. Entered again), MEMO (65A. Exec’s note); LATE (21D. After the buzzer); and PEONS (56D. Doers of drudgery). When I set pen to paper to write this, I thought, “well, it can’t be that weak, so in trying to make this puzzle coalesce a bit more than it’s thin DAILYPLANET premise, I decided to google “Superman characters” to see if the entries ELIZABETHI (3D. 1998 role for Cate Blanchett) or ADAMANDEVE (31D. Genesis duo) contained parts of the comic book’s newspaper staff but no -- it’s just a very thin staff!

HORNET (10D Big buzzer) was part of a comic book character’s moniker, but where’s SUPERMAN when you need him? Other characters in the puzzle include WIZ (20A. Diana Ross musical, with “The”); EUBIE (2D. Blake of jazz); ONEAL (5D. N.B.A.’s Shaquille); ALEC (8D. Guinness of stage and screen); ELISE (29D. Beethoven dedicatee); EBAN (33D. Israel’s Abba); 42. Rap’s Dr. DRE; the SENATE (49D. Hundred on the Hill), and LADS (60D. Little shavers).

There are many look-alike entries -- RASH and DASH, TULANE and LANE, LINE and LATE, LODE and DOTE, RATA and DATA, ERA and REA, HULA, ALA and ALAS, EPA, PAT and NAP, etc.

After a few more longer entries, KARNAK, CLEANSE, CREPES, GERMAN, HOTDOG and SCHLEP, the puzzle nestles into a pit of crosswordese with such fill (or is it?) as NAIL, ONE, SEA, BET, DAB, ASH, RHOS, UTE, DIE, STET, AGOG, ALOT, SIDE, ENES, TATA, ASTO, HOI, ERAT, WEDS, MOW, ICON and NON and on and on -- along the way we get the variety of longer standards, e.g., CHASE, ERODE, OKLA, CHINO, ASCAP, STONE, OVEN, HONED, STET, SHOWS, RESET, alll AIMED for the shredder!

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For today’s cartoons, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.

To go to the original post with illustrations and the completed puzzle, or to leave a Comment, click on the TITLE at the beginning of today's or any day's commentary.

01.21.08

Jumble

Monday, January 21, 2008

Puzzle by Andrea Carla Michaels, edited by Will Shortz

"Win, Lose or Draw": WINBYANOSE (17A. Triumph, but just barely); LOSEONES BALANCE (38A. Fall off a beam, e.g.); and DRAWABLANK (61A. Momentarily forget [or get lucky in Scrabble?]) are three inter-related entries unrelated to this Martin Luther King Day.

Along with WENTFIRST (3D. Led off) UNDEROATH (35D. Sworn to tell the truth), and several other entries and clues, this puzzle has a conversational air -- 10A. Say jokingly, JEST; 24A. False fronts, FACADES; 28A. Smug smiles, SMIRKS; 44A. Fusses, ADOS; 51A. Less drunk, SOBERER; 57A. Parisian yes, OUI; 18D. Talk idly, YACK; 50D. Meditated (on), MUSED; 53D. Took a curtain call, BOWED; 58D. “Render therefore UNTO Caesar …”; and 69A. Command to a steed, WHOA!

DWARF (5A. Dopey or Doc) lead off the beings in the puzzle which include AMES (21A. Actor Ed of “Daniel Boone”); OTT (42A. Baseballer Mel); NEWT (45A. Politico Gingrich); ARTE (25D. Comic Johnson); a SCOT (36D. Glaswegian, e.g.), along with 37D. Loch NESS monster; a SAVER (48D. Lifeguard, at times); NOMADS (45D. Wanderers); and LEW (63A. Actor Ayres), not to be confused with LEWD (1A. Lascivious) -- and dare we mention ALLAH (27A. God to Muslims)?

Places in the puzzle are AARE, UTAH, MAUI, SAMOA, LAWN, ERIE, SAUNA, STLO, USA, OCEAN, OCALA, RIO, and 47D. United ARAB Emirates. There’s a withdrawn air to the crossword, what with RARER, EBBING, EKED, DAB, WANED, MOOT, and the aforementioned inter-related entries.

Not so much ALIKE are a JUMBLE of entries: CARETS, ALUMNI, OILER, LOADS, DRAMAS, AROSE, ETAIL, THIGH, STUBS, RENTS, CONES, CEDARS, et cetera.

FREE (9D. Unoccupied, as a theater seat) is the closest we get to a mention of the Holiday!

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For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.

To go to the original post with illustrations and the completed puzzle, or to leave a Comment, click on the TITLE at the beginning of today's or any day's commentary.